Lock for hotel-guest-room doors



Sept. 13; '1927.

E.- S. B. SMITH LOOK FOR HOTEL GUEST ROOM DOORS Inventor Filed May 61926 Attorney Patented Sept. 13,1927.

. v UNITED STATES ERNEST S. B. SMITH, OF SACRAIIIENTO, CALIFORNIA.

LOCK .FOR HoTEL-GUEsl ItOolrf DOORS;

Application filed May 6,

My present invention has to do with locks for doors; and it contemplatesthe provision of a peculiar and advantageous lock designed to renderfutile the efforts of unscrupulous persons to work a lock and gainaccess to a guest room in a hotel without authority.

To the attainment of the foregoing, the invention consists in theimprovement as to hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showingthepreferred embodiment of what I designate an envelope lock.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken through a portion of the envelopeand also through the withdrawable member of my improvement.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective showing the said withdrawable memberper se.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all'ofthe views of the drawings.

The envelope 1 of my improvement is designed to be secured in a door,not shown, in the conventional manner or in any other manner compatiblewith the purpose of my invention, and by preference the said envelope 1is associated in a single unit with a door latch designated by 2, andcharacterized by a conventional latch bolt 3 and also by a knob 4tconnected with the latch bolt 3 for the manipulation of the latter.

In opposed walls and preferably in the upper and lower walls of theenvelope 1 are formed guide ways 5 which extend to the forward open endof the envelope or casing 1. The said guide ways 5 are for the receptionof longitudinal ribs 6 on the withdrawable member, the said member beingdesignated by 7 and being made up of a-hollow body or casing andbeingprovided with a locking bolt 8 and with key controlled means 9 forworking the said bolt 8, the key controlled means 9 being per se of anyconstruction or type consonant with the purpose of my invention. At itsforward end the body of the withdrawable member 7 is provided with anescutcheon plate 10, and when the withdrawable member is sheathed in theenvelope or casing l, the face of the said escutcheon plate 10 isadapted to rest flush with the face or forward end of the 1926. SerialNo, 107,191.

latch casing 2. Figure 1. In the preferred embodiment of my lnventioncountersinks 11 are provided in the face of the escutcheon plate 10, andin said countersinks 11 are arranged loo p-like members 12 for theengagement of a wire caliper with hooked ends or for the engagement ofany other device' through the medium of which the withdrawable membermay be expeditiously and easily .i emovcd from the envelope or casing 1.

In the practical use of my improvement after a guest occupying aparticular roomhas checked out, the withdrawable member of the d or lockof that room is withdrawn and is replaced with a similar withdrawablemember from the door lock of another room, and the key designations forthe particular rooms are correspondingly changed so that if a criminallyminded individual has succeeded in taking'an impression of the lock, hisefforts will be of no avail inasmuch as he will not be cognizant of theparticular room to which the withdrawable member has been removed. 7

In this latter connection it will be noted that it is feasible for aperson in authority to change the keys complimentary to the mentionedwithdrawable members before the keys are turned over to a room clerk ina hotel, and therefore there is no liability of criminal collusionbetween members of the help in the hotel and outside parties criminallyminded. I

Notwithstanding the practical advantages ascribed to my improvement, itwill be understood that the improvement is simple, inexpensive, anddurable, and that the withdrawal of a withdrawable member does notentail the loss or the lack of such withdrawable member inasmuch as whenwithdrawn U it is replaced by a withdrawable member from the door ofanother room, and the withdrawn member from the first-named room door isput in the place of the other Withdrawable member.

I have explicitly described the preferred embodiment of my invention inorder to impart a full, clear and exact understanding of the saidembodiment. I do not desire,

however, to be understood as limiting myself to the preciseconstructionshown and described, my invention being defined by myappended claims within the scope of which modifications may be madewithout departure from my invention.

Having described my invention, what I a claim and desire to secure byLetters-Patent, is

1. In combination, an envelope or casing open at one end and adapted tobe socketed in a door with its open end spaced inwardly from theswinging edge of the door, and a Withdrawable member sheathed in saidcasing or envelope and equipped with a locking bolt and with keycontrolled means for the manipulation of said bolt and also equippedwith an escutcheon plate provided at its forward side with means forfacilitating the withdrawal of the withdrawable member, said escutcheonplate being adapted when the withdrawable member is fully socketed inthe envelope or casing to rest flush with said swinging edge of thedoor, and the said means for facilitating the withdrawal of saidwithdrawable member being in the form of loop-like devices disposed incoun- .tersinks in the face of said escutcheon plate.

2. The herein described envelope lock comprising an envelope or casingopen atone end and adapted to be socketed in a door with its open endspaced inwardly from the swinging edge of the door and having inopposite walls guide ways extending to said open end, and awithdrawablemember sheathed in said casing or envelope and having on opposite sideslongitudinal ribs disposed in said guide ways, and equipped with alocking bolt andwith key controlled means for the manipulation of saidbolts and also equipped with an escutcheon plate provided at its forwardside with means for facilitating the withdrawal of thewithdrawableinen'iber, said escutcheon plate adapted when thewithdrawable member is fully SOOllQtGCl in the envelope or casing torest flush with said swinging edge of the door.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

ERNEST S. B. SMITH.

